The Herald Sun relates the results of a survey by The Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, conducted online (red flag) among 1945 participants, reporting that this identified 8% of respondents as "problem gamers." They report: "These players admitted to gaming for extended periods - in some cases more than eight hours a day - had fewer friends in real life and had even lost a significant relationship as a result of excessive play," and that: "Other problems extended to craving more play time, and restlessness or irritability if they couldn't get back to the controller." In a comparison that may rankle family and friends of those suffering drug or alcohol addiction, they say Psychiatrist Guy Porter, who co-wrote a paper based on the survey's findings, said video game dependence was similar to drug and alcohol addiction, though the quote they offer could serve as a warning of the dangers of too much anything: "Any pleasurable activity has the potential to become addictive or to form a repetitive pattern of use." Thanks Computer and Video Games.